word choice - "Him/Her" vs "Himself/Herself"


As a unit admin I’m often typing award certificates. The last line of the award citation usually goes something like this:



Private Joan Smith actions reflect great credit upon herself, the 120th Jumping Jacks Company, the 13th fighter Battalion and the United States Army.



It was recently pointed out to me that this is correct:



Private Joan Smith actions reflect great credit upon her, the 120th Jumping Jacks Company, the 13th fighter Battalion and the United States Army.



The first way is what I’m used to seeing and it looks right to me, but has always sounded awkward when reciting it. When I say the other way out loud it sounds better, but both seem to work. Which is correct?



Answer



Her is correct here, and not herself:



Private Joan Smith's actions reflect great credit upon her, the 120th Jumping Jacks Company, the 13th fighter Battalion and the United States Army.



Use a reflexive pronoun where the subject of the verb is also the object.


In this case, the subject is Private Joan Smith's actions, and they are reflecting credit on to Private Joan Smith. Thus the subject of reflects is not the object (great credit) nor even the indirect object (Joan Smith), and the pronoun should not be reflexive.


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